Thursday, 1 August 2013

The 31st of July is the D-day for many
female student virgin voters. Most
female students registered in the ended mobile registration exercise and are
enthusiastic to cast their vote.

For 27 year old Isabel Phiri* growing up in a
relatively harsh environment where she had to be labelled a “brandaya”, a term
for people who are of the Malawian origin, she had to face the reality that
indeed she was not considered a Zimbabwean.

In 2008 when
she tried to cast her ballot at the age of 22, Isabel tried to cast her first
vote but alas, the screaming letters written “alien” on her identification
certificate was her draw back

She was told that she could not exercise her right
to vote simply because her parents were foreigners.

Five years down the line, Isabel was given a new
lease of life when Zimbabwe ushered in the new constitution.

Not only is Isabel a born free but also an alien
allowed to make a decision in the political dispensation, thanks to the new
supreme law of the land. She only had to fill an affidavit and was allowed to
register as a voter.

A female student at Lupane State University said she
tried to register in 2008 as a voter at the age of 23, but was frustrated by
the process of proof of residence and hence failed to register.

This time around, she is determined to exercise her
right to vote since she is now a registered voter and to make a change in her
life by voting for the party of her choice.

Another female student at Africa University said she
was motivated by the desire to bring in the change she wants as a young woman.

“I was keen to go and register this time because I
want to be able to shape my future by choosing people who can make a change in my
life. I also believe that as young women we should all go and vote to decide
our future. I feel excited that I exercised my right and my vote will count in
building up a great nation,” she said.

This year youth are itching to make their voices
count in the upcoming elections. According to a survey done by Mass Public
Opinion Institute,in which 1,008 youths drawn from all
the country’s provinces were sampled shows that 64 per cent of the respondents
are looking forward to vote in the harmonised elections with 50 per cent already
on the voters’ roll. The survey, conducted between 19 and 28 January this year,
shows that Mashonaland Central had the highest number of registered youths, at
70 per cent, followed by Masvingo at 57 per cent. Bulawayo is the lowest at 19
per cent.

The survey
was meant to gauge youth participation in the country’s political process.

Female
Students Network has been encouraging female students to be involved in
national processes such as voting, andjudging by the number of first time female students potential voters,
the Network has done a great job in its endeavourto enhance capacities offemale students to actively participate in
national processes.

A total of at least one hundred and thirty female
students have registered to vote in the upcoming harmonised elections, with the
encouragement of FSN.